Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off with a massive NFC West battle between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, and the stakes are high again today with three of four teams in action currently inside the NFC playoff picture.

On the final weekend before Christmas, the NFL takes over with its first Saturday games of the 2025 regular season.

Today’s games feature four NFC teams with tons of playoff implications kicking off Saturday. Here’s what to know about Saturday’s NFL action:

NFL Saturday schedule: Week 16 games today

• Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders, 5 p.m. ET
• Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 8:20 p.m. ET

NFL Saturday: TV channels for today’s games

• Eagles at Commanders: Fox
• Packers at Bears: Fox

Odds for every NFL game today

Odds from BetMGM:

• Philadelphia Eagles (-310) at Washington Commanders (+250)
  • PHI (-6.5); O/U: 44.5
• Green Bay Packers (-115) at Chicago Bears (-105)
  • GB (1.5); O/U: 46.5

NFL picks, predictions for Saturday games

• Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
• Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

How to live stream NFL games today

• FuboTV (all games)

Catch NFL action all season with a Fubo subscription

Storylines for today’s NFL games

• The first matchup of the day is an NFC East divisional matchup in the nation’s capital. The defending champion Eagles ran over the Raiders in Week 14, and Philadelphia is in the top spot in the division. A win for the road team would push the Birds one step closer to sealing the division title for the second straight year, snapping the 21-season streak of a different NFC East champion. They will take on a Marcus Mariota-led Commanders squad after the team decided to shut down Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the season with Washington out of the playoff picture.
• Green Bay enters Week 16 as the No. 7 seed but heads on the road to face the upstart Chicago Bears, who are eying an NFC North title and enter tonight’s game as the No. 2 seed. The victor will be in sole possession of first place in the NFC North. These teams met two weeks ago, where the Bears lost 28-21 at Lambeau Field. Green Bay will play its first game since losing Micah Parsons to a torn ACL.

The family of deceased pitcher Tyler Skaggs and the Los Angeles Angels reached a settlement Dec. 19 in the civil lawsuit the left-hander’s loved ones filed against the ballclub, ending a three-month trial and more than six years of legal matters following the pitcher’s 2019 death.

Financial terms were not available. The Skaggs family released a statement noting that the trial ‘exposed the truth’ over the Angels’ culpability in his death.

‘The Skaggs family has reached a confidential settlement with Angels Baseball that brings to a close a difficult six-year process, allowing our families to focus on healing,’ the family said in a statement released through lead attorney Rusty Hardin. ‘We are deeply grateful to the members of this jury, and to our legal team. Their engagement and focus gave us faith, and now we have finality.

‘This trial exposed the truth and we hope Major League Baseball will now do its part in holding the Angels accountable. While nothing can bring Tyler back, we will continue to honor his memory.’

The 12-person jury had just begun its second full day of deliberations in the Santa Ana, Calif. courtroom when multiple reports indicated that the two sides were closing in on a settlement. During the first full day of deliberations Dec. 17, the smoke signals that emerged from the jury room did not bode well for the Angels: Jurors asked whether they determined the amount of punitive damages awarded, and also requested testimony regarding Skaggs’ potential future earnings be read back.

Based on the five-page jury instructions they received, that indicated they’d already cleared the hurdle of responsibility at the heart of the suit – that the Angels knew or should have known that former communications director Eric Kay was distributing unprescribed opioids to Skaggs and several other Angels players.

Skaggs died July 1, 2019 in a suburban Dallas hotel after ingesting a pain pill laced with a lethal amount of fentanyl that he received from Kay. The former communications director received a 22-year federal prison sentence after a Texas jury convicted him in February 2022 of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

The Dec. 19 settlement marked the culmination of a trial that began in September with jury selection and continued with opening statements Oct. 14, the beginning of more than two months of emotional testimony and pointed statements from both plaintiff and defendant attorneys.

‘The death of Tyler Skaggs remains a tragedy, and this trial sheds light on the dangers of opioid use and the devastating effects it can have,’ the Angels said in a prepared statement. ‘Throughout the course of court proceedings, both parties searched for a path to a mutually agreed upon resolution and a confidential settlement has been reached.’

At its core, the civil proceeding hinged on one concept: The depth of the Angels’ knowledge that Kay provided drugs to Skaggs. And, conversely, whether Skaggs, who aimed to quit Percocet ‘cold turkey’ before the Angels acquired him in 2013, was addicted to painkillers long before Kay emerged as one of his primary sources to acquire them.

As part of the juror instructions, panelists were asked to reach consensus on percentage of responsibility each party should be assigned: Angels Baseball, Kay (whose responsibility would be included in the Angels’ percentage) and Skaggs.

Skaggs’ family – his widow Carli, mother Debbie Hetman and father Darrell Skaggs – sought $118 million in lost future wages, in addition to emotional distress damages – the ‘loss of love’ condition – as well as punitive damages. Experts from both sides aimed to quantify how much money Skaggs would have earned had he not perished; at the time of his death, Skaggs was halfway to his most productive season as a major leaguer.

Closing arguments concluded Dec. 16, and the jury began deliberations later that day and all day Dec. 17 before the trial took a one-day break. The jury was less than an hour into its deliberations on Dec. 19 before the agreement was reached.

Anthony Joshua delivered what legions of Jake Paul haters have been waiting for.

A crushing knockout of the former YouTuber.

Joshua knocked down Paul four times and finished him off in the sixth round of their heavyweight fight Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. “The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him,’’ Joshua said during an in-ring interview. “…It took a little bit longer than expected. But, the right hand finally found its destination.” 

Paul, the YouTuber, predicted he would shock the world with a victory over Joshua, the former heavyweight champion. Instead, the 28-year-old Paul got knocked down for the first time of his pro career – and knocked out, too – by the 36-year-old Joshua. Paul landed some hard shots, but Joshua looked unfazed.

In the sixth round, after going down for the fourth time, Paul failed to reach his feet before the referee counted to 10.

Paul finished the fight conscious but with blood in his mouth and defeat on his face. ‘I think my jaw is broke by the way,” Paul said during his in-ring interview with Ariel Helwani. ‘It’s definitely broke.” He added, ‘Anthony’s a great fighter and I got my ass beat. But that’s what this sport is about.’’

Anthony Joshua did take time to applaud Paul: “He got up, time and time again. It was difficult in there for him. But he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that.’’

A heavy underdog heading into the fight, Paul found himself at a crossroads.

He was 12-1 with seven knockouts. But, almost six years after his pro debut, he still faced skepticism about his skill level, largely because he’d beaten a collection of suspect opponents. The roster included a YouTuber, a retired NBA player, MMA fighters and aging boxers.

Now the skepticism will continue.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight highlights

Badly beaten Jake Paul, ‘I had a blast’

Although Paul said his jaw was broken, he smiled during an in-ring interview after the fight.

“Yeah, I’m feeling good,’’ he said. “That was fun. I love this sport. I gave it my all. It’s (expletive) crazy. I had a blast.’

A badly beaten Paul seemed in good spirits. “Man, that was good, he said. ‘I just got an ass whupping from one of the best to ever do this.’’

Looking to the future, Paul was optimistic.

“Oh, yeah. For sure,’’ he said, adding that he plans to fight people at his own weight and go for the cruiserweight world title.

Jake Paul injury update on possible broken jaw

Paul was knocked out in the sixth round of the fight and told Ariel Helwani during the post-fight interview that he would be taking a break to recover.

“I think my jaw is broke, by the way,” Paul said during his in-ring interview. ‘It’s definitely broke.”

Joshua was credited with knocking Paul down on multiple occasions during the contest.

According to MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Paul will miss the postfight press conference and in on his way to the hospital.

Jake Paul fight results: ANTHONY JOSHUA WINS by KO

At 1:31 in the sixth, Anthony Joshua finished off a gassed Jake Paul. An ugly fight ends with Paul on the canvas, where he spent a good amount of time on Friday night.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight results, analysis

• Round 1: Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua? Are you kidding me?! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s on! Paul is sidestepping and keeping a distance from Joshua. Joshua throws a jab, and another as he bears down on Paul. Paul looking at Joshua’s feet. Paul lefts an awkward jab. Paul throws a right and back comes a fierce one that misses. Joshua trying to cut down the ring, Paul throws an overhand right that fails to get through. Paul gets wrapped up with Joshua and falls down. Ugly. Joshua doing his best to catch up with Paul. Joshua throwing no punches and Paul lands a jab. Paul stays on the move, Joshua throws a hard right and it grazes Paul. Then he scores with a jab. Paul looks scared. Joshua looks calm. Joshua 10, Paul 9.
• Round 2: Joshua quicker to chase down Paul. Reach out with his left. Joshua connects with a right and just missed with another big one. Paul is running. Paul moves forward behind a left. Joshua corners Paul but Paul slips away and gets wrapped up. Boos. Paul lands a right to the body. He’s showboating now. But running. Joshua lands a left and Paul rushes out. Joshua struggling to find the right distance. Paul better have marathon stamina. More boos. Joshua digs in with a right and has Paul in the corner. But the round ends before he can capitalize. But Paul looks scared. Joshua 20, Paul 18.
• Round 3: Paul gets wrapped up with Joshua but not for long. He’s on the move again. Paul lands a left and Joshua drills Paul with a right to the body. Paul almost falls down as he backpedals. Paul tries a right uppercut. He looks spent even as he jabbed Joshua. Joshua is pounding away as they get wrapped up again. Paul is hanging onto the ropes. Desperate to stay on his feet and avoid Joshua’s power. Joshua not showing much urgency, but Paul doing less. Joshua 30, Paul 27.
• Round 4: Joshua scores with a jab and Paul responds with a hard right that misses. Paul hangs on to Joshua before falling to the canvas. Paul lands a right and a left and again falls to Joshua’s feet. Referee warns Paul. He gets tangled up with him again. Joshua looks increasingly stymied. Paul tumbles to the canvas again. Joshua lands an uppercut. Paul throws an uppercut of his own and ends up on the canvas again. Paul appears to have gotten hit with a low blow and he’s getting time to recover. The “low blow’’ was Joshua’s left knee as they fell to the canvas. Paul connects with a left but falls to the canvas again. Referee warns them both. Referee calls it “crap.’’  Joshua 39, Paul 37.
• Round 5: If this were wrestling, Paul might be prevailing. The round begins and Paul immediately wraps up Joshua. Joshua lands a huge right and Paul is on his feet. But he clings to Joshua again as he hits the canvas. Paul lands a right and throws another. The fight is on! Joshua lands a hard body short and Paul looks wobbly. He grabs at Joshua’s legs again. It’s a knockdown! He’s on his feet and running again. Paul is down again! On his feet again. 40 seconds to go. Paul looks exhausted. Paul lands a hard right but takes one too. Joshua whaling away and Paul survives! Two knockdowns but the fight continues! Joshua 49, Paul 44.
• Round 6: Paul running again, into the corner and Paul gets hit hard! Paul is down again. He’s up and on it goes. Paul throws a hard right. Joshua looks fresh and rocks Paul. Paul wags his tongue at Joshua and throws a weak left. Joshua lands a huge right and it’s over!!! Joshua wins by KO!

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua ring walks

Anthony Joshua comes out wearing a sleeveless camouflage top and camo trunks. On the way to the ring, he’s in no mood to dap hands with fans reaching out over metal barriers.

Jake Paul parades with Daniel Hernandez, controversial rapper Tekashi69. He looks as hyped as his hype man. Paul is wearing a cartoonish red and yellow ensemble and sporting yellow sunglasses.

How will Jake Paul fight end? Rory McIlroy has a prediction

Golfer Rory McIlroy, the five-time major winner, is at the fight and made a cameo on the Netflix livestream.

“Look, I commend Jake for taking this fight,’’ he said. “He’s very brave.’’

But asked for a prediction, McIlroy cited Joshua’s advantage with height, reach and experience.

“Look, I’m a big fight fan,’’ McIlroy said. “I just can’t see any other result than an early knockout by Joshua.’’

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: American hero?

In his locker room before the fight, Jake Paul was wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with yellow letters spelling out “American Made.’’

It appears Paul will try to get American fans behind him when he fights Anthony Joshua, the British heavyweight.

That would mark a shift for Paul, who is almost always treated by the crowd as the villain.

Alycia Baumgardner def. Leila Beaudoin by unanimous decision

Baumgardner outpunched and outclassed Beaudoin while defending her unified super featherweight world title in a 12-round fight.

Baumgardner knocked down Beaudoin at the end of the seventh round. But Beaudoin refused to give in.

In fact, she landed hard shots in the 11th round. But her fight only revealed Baumgardner’s elite skills.

With a variety of punches, Baumgardner pummeled Beaudoin and left significant swelling on her face.

The judges scored the fight 117-110, 117-110 and 118-109 for Baumgardner, the 31-year-old American who improved to 16-1.

Beaudoin, a 29-year-old Canadian, fell to 13-2.

Alycia Baumgardner vs. Leila Beaudoin, super featherweight world title

• Round 1: Leila Beaudoin comes out firing her jab. Alycia Baumgardner in no hurry to attack but she throws the left jab. Baumgardner scores with an overhand right and she connects with a body shot. Perhaps the three-minute rounds in this bout will slow the action. So much for the pugilistic sprint. Baumgardner 10, Beaudoin 9
• Round 2: Both fighters come out still looking hesitant. There’s no prolonged engagement. But Baumgardner is striking more regularly and revving up. Beaudoin’s reddened face is evidence of that. Baumgardner 20, Beaudoin 18.
• Round 3: Baumgardner comes out with more aggression as the hesitance appears to have waned, although she’s exhibiting defensive awareness. Beaudoin is showing some swelling under her left eye. Those punches from Baumgardner appear to be no joke. Baumgardner 30, Beaudoin 27.
• Round 4: Baumgardner looking elite with precision punches. Baumgardner looks fresh. Beaudoin, not so much. And the swelling on her face has worsened. Baumgardner continues to fend off Beaudoin’s punches and land her own. Baumgardner 40, Beaudoin 36. 
• Round 5: Is Baumgardner willing to open up and go the knockdown? We’ll see. Beaudoin lands a nice right, then lands a left. She’s showing life. But now she has swelling on the top of her head. Beaudoin bulls forward and Baumgardner whales away and she appeared to be stunned getting caught by a hard Baumgardner punch. Baumgardner 50, Beaudoin 45.
• Round 6: Pop-pop-pop, Baumgardner firing jabs again. The fighters get tangled up, and Beaudoin surely would prefer a little wrestling. Or a lot. Baumgardner attacks the body and she’s unfurling right uppercuts. Baumgardner 60, Beaudoin 54.
• Round 7: Beaudoin still has life. The question is can she get close enough and be accurate enough to hurt Baumgardner.  Baumgardner keeps scoring and Beaudoin’s face keeps swelling. Baumgardner lands a HARD right and drops Beaudoin at 2:59 of the round! But she’s up on her feet and the fight will continue. Baumgardner 70, Beaudoin 62.
• Round 8: Swollen and battered, Beaudoin comes out for Round 8. The referee rushes in when Beaudoin appears to try to pick up Baumgardner and…dump her on the canvas. Baumgardner was too quick and agile for that, and now the fighters are mixing it up. The Baumgardner beating is relentless. Baumgardner 80, Beaudoin 71.
• Round 9: The pace slows, before Beaudoin charges forward and Baumgardner starts firing her punches. Beaudoin lands a right and suddenly is under attack again. Baumgardner displays sharp defense and relishes it. Baumgardner 90, Beaudoin 80.
• Round 10: Beaudoin refusing to give in – against better judgement? Maybe fatigue is setting in for both boxers with the three-minute rounds. Beaudoin lands and pays the price. Baumgardner answers with crisp combinations. Baumgardner 100, Beaudoin 89.
• Round 11: Beaudoin throwing punches, and that keeps Baumgardner in attack mode. She digs shots into Beaudoin’s body. Yet more body shots. Beaudoin lands two hard shots and then digs into the body. Wow. Hard shots. Baumgardner 109, Beaudoin 99.
• Round 12: Beaudoin needs a knockout. Can she channel her Round 11 power? Beaudoin pushes Baumgardner into the ropes. Roughing her up? Baumgardner still throwing hard shots, but clearly aware of Beaudoin’s power too. Baumgardner lands the wicked left jab again, and boy does Beaudoin’s face look swollen. Beaudoin whaling away and connects with her right. The fists are flying as the fight comes to a close. Baumgardner 119, Beaudoin 108.

Celebs take to Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight

Jake Paul keys to victory

When Jake Paul was asked by Ariel Helwani before the fight what the key to victory over Anthony Joshua was, Paul replied, “I think it’s frustrating him, boxing on the outside and exposing the fact that he has a bad defense. And landing my big power shots that I’ve hurt people with. Gotta hurt him. Gotta put him down. Got to put him to sleep.’’

Who did Jake Paul lose to?

Jake Paul suffered his only defeat as a pro boxer against Tommy Fury in 2023. Though Paul knocked him down in the eighth and final round of the fight, he lost by split decision. The judges scored it 76-73, 74-75, 76-73 in favor of Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

What is Jake Paul listening to before fight?

Jake Paul appeared to be listening to something on AirPods before the fight, and inquiring minds wanted to know what.

The inquiring mind of Ariel Helwani on Netflix’s livestream, that is.

“I’m listening to meditation music,’’ Paul said. “Just staying calm, keeping the heart rate low. And when the bell rings I’ll be ready to turn it up.’’

What time is the Jake Paul fight tonight? Ring walk

Jake Paul takes on Anthony Joshua in a card that starts at 8 p.m. ET. The main event will start at about 10:30 p.m. ET.

Anderson Silva def. Tyron Woodley by TKO

Silva, among the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, deepened his legend.

The 50-year-old Silva beat the 43-year-old Woodley, former UFC champion. The victory came by TKO when he knocked him down with one minute and 33 seconds into the second round of their cruiserweight fight.

Silva landed a righthanded uppercut and followed it with two right hands before Woodley collapsed to the canvas.

Though Wooley got back on his feet, he looked woozy and the referee quickly stopped the bout that was scheduled for six rounds.

Anderson Silva vs. Tyron Woodley, cruiserweight

• Round 1: Boxers look a tad tentative here. Maybe they need to limber up considering Anderson Silva is 50 and Tyron Woodley is 43. Lots of standing. Ah, here come the boos. Woodley throws three overhand rights, but nothing lands. Silva works Woodley into a corner and throws a left. Now he might need an IV to recover. Woodley 10, Silva 9.
• Round 2: Woodley comes out throwing rights and jabs and Silva looks alive, too. Silva backing Woodley into a corner again. He fails to capitalize. Silva looking for one big punch? There it is! Silva drops Woodley! The knockout was a right hand uppercut followed by two more rights to the head. He’s up and looks ready to continue. Not sure Woodley knows where he is. And the referee halts the fight! It’s over. Silva by TKO! 

How old is Anderson Silva?

Silva turned 50 years old on April 14. He will take on Tyron Woodley, who is 43 years old.

Anderson Silva UFC results

Silva is highly regarded as a mixed martial artist, boasting a 34-11-0 (1 no contest) record from 2000 to 2020.

He lost his last three MMA fights, including one to Israel Adesanya, before making the move back to boxing in 2021. — James Williams

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua attire revealed as boxers arrive

The boxers have arrived at the Kaseya Center.

Paul came in all black, Joshua in camouflage.

Paul also had what appeared to be a black walking stick and iced-out chains.

Jahmal Harvey def. Kevin Cervantes by unanimous decision

Somehow, Harvey failed to medal at the 2024 Olympics. It’s harder to know why after his second pro fight.

Harvey, the 23-year-old American, put in a gold-medal worthy performance with a dominating victory in a six-round super featherweight bout.

Harvey scored a knockdown in the first round, and the only suspense after that was whether he could score a knockout. Despite an impressive combination of offense and defense, the answer was no.

All three judges scored the fight 60-53 as Harvey improved to 2-0. Cervantes suffered his first loss and fell to 5-1.

Jahmal Harvey vs. Kevin Cervantes fight results

• Round 1: Jahmal Harvey comes out firing his jab, and he scores multiple times. Then he connects with another flurry. No sign of Kevin Cervantes’ KO power yet. Harvey dominating, connects with a left and down goes Cervantes! Quickly up on his feet and he looks fine. Harvey increasing the pressure. Harvey looks speedy, accurate and assertive. Cervantes offering little in return. Harvey 10, Cervantes 8
• Round 2: Harvey lands a left uppercut and his punches look potent. Harvey pouring it on. Cervantes looks befuddled, or maybe just overmatched. Harvey now attacking the body, too. Harvey 20, Cervantes 17.
• Round 3: Cervantes finally throwing punches, and with some authority, But Harvey responds quickly, with a combination and jabs. Harvey revving up and Cervantes hit the canvas. It’s a slip, but it’d be no surprise if he ends up there again. Harvey looks determined to finish this fight. Harvey 30, Cervantes 26.
• Round 4: Harvey tattooing Cervantes, stalking. About the only thing that’s eluded Harvey is the big shot, the KO punch. Otherwise, he continues an exceptional performance. Incredible footwork. Harvey 40, Cervantes 35.  
• Round 5: How did Harvey not medal at the 2024 Olympics? He’s feinting and firing and looks gold-medal worthy to me. Connecting with powerful shots to Cervantes’ body. Cervantes throws a wicked right and misses. Is that a sign of danger for Harvey? Harvey 50, Cervantes 44.
• Round 6: Time for Cervantes to swing for the fences. That could be difficult with Harvey demonstrating impressive offense and defense. Harvey keeps the pressure on. Cervantes fires big shots, off the mark. Harvey not playing it safe. Turns out there was no need to. Harvey 60, Cervantes 53.

Jake Paul addresses his haters

On Jake Paul’s X account earlier this day, up went this post:

To my supporters – thank you.

To my haters – thank you.

To my team – thank you.

To all the fighters – thank you.

To Netflix – thank you.

To boxing – thank you.

To GOD – THANK YOU

TONIGHT WE SHOCK THE WORLD

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua expectations

The boxing community is expecting and demanding a knockout from Anthony Joshua in the first or second round, according to David Haye, the former cruiserweight world champion.

“Anything other than that, people are going to start asking questions of Anthony Joshua,’’ Haye said on the Netflix livestream.

Laila Ali on Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua

Laila Ali pulled no punches when asked about Jake Paul fighting Anthony Joshua.

“I don’t see how he has any business being in the ring with Anthony Joshua,’’ Ali said on the Netflix livestream.

But she also said she considers Paul “a real boxer.’’

“But honey, not with Anthony Joshua now,’’ Ali said with a smile.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight results: Prelims

Cherneka Johnson def. Amanda Galle by unanimous decision

Galle was a worthy contender. Johnson was a fierce champion. And through a blood bath, the champion prevailed.

With blood covering both fighters as a result of headbutts, Johnson defended her undisputed bantamweight title.

The judges scored it 99-91, 98-92, 97-93 for Johnson, the 30-year-old Australian who improved to 19-2. Galle, a 36-year-old from Canada, suffered her first loss and fell to 12-0-1.

Cherneka Johnson vs. Amanda Galle

Round 1: Chereka Johnson looks powerful. Amanda Galle hangs in there, but she looks a little overmatched. Too much so to win that opening round. Johnson having to contend with a cut resulting from a headbutt. Johnson 10, Galle 9. 

Round 2: Galle cut now too and it’s ugly. Johnson attacking Galle hard. Johnson 20, Galle 18.

Round 3: Referee calls for ringside doctor to check Galle’s cut. The bout continues. Both boxers bleeding and Johnson getting the best of this brawl. Johnson scores repeatedly while blood streams down the left side of Galle’s face. Johnson 30, Galle 27.

Round 4: Galle landed a few jabs and then Johnson gave chase. She caught up, too, and connected with several shots. Johnson 40, Galle 36. 

Round 5: Galle showing spirit and connecting to Johnson’s body. But Johnson remains the aggressor and digs in with shots. Johnson throwing more shots and with some authority too. Johnson 50, Galle 45.

Round 6: Johnson comes out firing jabs and then unloads heavier shots. Galle stands her ground. Repeated exchanges ensue, and Johnson scores to the body. Galle holding her own, thanks in part to her jab. Galle showing no fear. Johnson 59, Galle 55.

Round 7: Galle comes out firing with both fists. She’s on the move at times, but willing to stand in the line of fire too. Galle lands three left hooks in a room. Then she looks effective with inside fighting, too. Johnson 68, Galle 65.

Round 8: Now Johnson comes out the aggressor. Galle fights back and lands hard shots to the body. Two bloody boxers fighting it out. Johnson picks up the pace. Johnson 78, Galle 74.

Round 9: Galle looks sharp as her left hand lands. Followed by an uppercut. Little reprieve here as they slug away. Johnson scores with a combination and bulls into Galle. Galle swings away and lands shots of her own. Johnson 88, Galle 83.

Round 10: The boxers might be exhausted, but it’s hard to tell by their punching output and energy. Galle unleashing hard shots. But Johnson powers her way to a strong finish. Johnson 98, Galle 92. 

Caroline Dubois def. Camila Panatta by unanimous decision

Dubois, the talented Brit, made her U.S. debut and looked right at home. Panatta, by contrast, looked badly overmatched.

Armed with a lightning-quick left and crisp punches, Dubois knocked down Panatta in the sixth round. Dubois continued to batter Panatta while defending her WBC world lightweight title.

All three judges scored it 99-90 for Dubois, the 24-year-old from London who improved to 11-0-1.

Panatta, a 34-year-old Italian, fell to 8-3-1.

Caroline Dubois vs. Camila Panatta, WBC lightweight world title

Round 1: Carolina Dubois and Camila Panatta clash and hit the canvas. No knockdown. A pulldown. Dubois is landing the harder punches and is making good use of that left. Dubois 10, Panatta 9.

Round 2: Dubois, a southpaw, throwing a wicked left. And she’s throwing it a lot, along with a right to the body there. Dubois has lined up Panatta and throwing her punches with power. Dubois eats a shot, but one of the few. Dubois 20, Panatta 18.

Round 3: Panatta comes out hard and lands shots. But Dubois calmly waits for an opportunity. He strikes with a hard left, followed by a right hook. That left followed by a right hook is serving Dubois well. Panatta throwing lots of punches but landing few. Dubois 30, Panatta 27.

Round 4: Panatta stalking but often to her own detriment – walking into shots from Dubois. Again, throwing lots of punches but landing far too few. They get tied up, as Panatta appears to be trying to get rough with her opponent as Dubois relies on precision. Dubois 40, Panatta 36.

Round 5: Dubois remains composed and contained. Panatta lands a hard right. Dubois answers with two lightning quick body shots. Dubois 50, Panatta 45.

Round 6: Dubois’ speed is impressive, although she might be getting a little predictable. Delivers a right to the body, followed by a right. Now showing her versatility. Dubois clubs Panatta with a right hook and down she goes. She beats the count and there’s the bell – the round ending just in tine for Panatta. Dubois 60, Panatta 53.

Round 7: Panatta stays aggressive despite the knockdown in Round 6. Dubois has tattooed Panatta in the face repeatedly, and the damage looks like a giant welt. Dubois 70, Panatta 62.

Round 8: Dubois still punishing Panatta with the left and right. Panatta charging ahead, then absorbs a hard right. Absorbing a lot, in fact. Dubois 80, Panatta 71.

Round 9: Panatta tumbles to the canvas – and it’s her own fault. She’s trying to rough things up. Getting frustrated by her ability to reach Dubois while Dubois lands crisp shots. For every punch she lands, she eats about three. Dubois 90, Panatta 80. 

Round 10: Wow. A closer look at Panatta reveals plenty of damage as a result of Dubois’ hard and accurate punches. Panatta scores for a left and she moves forward. Dubois backing away rather than brawling. Dubois 100, Panatta 89.

Yokasta Valle def. Yadira Bustillos by majority decision

Valle and Bustillos combined to throw an astonishing 1,045 punches during their 10-round fight. But Valle landed the harder shots while defending her WBC strawweight world title by majority decision.

Struggling to see out of her right with blood gushing down the side of her head after a headbutt, Valle explained she simply used her left eye. While using her right and left fists.

The judges scored it 95-95, 98-92, 96-94 for Valle, a 33-year-old Costa Rican who improved to 34-3.

Bustillos, a 25-year-old American, fell to 11-3.

Yokasta Valle vs. Yadira Bustillos, WBC strawweight world title, scheduled for 10 rounds

Round 1: Yadira Bustillos is whooping rights early, and Yokasta Valle answers with hard lefts. Hard exchanges as the round reaches the midpoint. And the punches continue to fly and Valle’s taking over. Valle 10, Bustillos 9.

Round 2: Fists flying again as soon as the round begins. Bustillos starting to exploit her height advantage. Valle responds with a hard right, but Bustillos keep up the pressure during frenetic bout. Bustillos appealing to the referee after getting hit in the ear and Valle takes advantage and slugs her opponent. Valle 20, Bustillos 18.

Round 3: Bustillos comes out energized again. But she swings wildly while Valle is doing a better job of hitting her target. Suddenly Bustillos is on the attack, and Valle is cut badly on the upper right side of her head. Blood gushing. Accidental headbutt. Valle 29, Bustillos 28.

Round 4: The fighters bump heads again and now Valle’s blood is smeared on Bustillos’ face. Ugly. Bustillos has asserted herself again, and Valle fires in punches and reasserts her control. Now it’s Bustillos bleeding from above her right eye. Valle 39, Bustillos 37.

Round 5: There’s no let up in this bout. Both women connecting with head shots, including a very hard left from Valle. But the blood is gushing again on the right side of Valle’s head. And perhaps Bustillos smells, well, blood, as she increases her punch output. Valle 48, Bustillos 47.

Round 6: More rock ‘em sock ‘em action. Brawling. Hard to keep track of the connecting punches, and Bustillos is landing in punches – to the head and the body. Valle 57, Bustillos 57.

Round 7: Valle opens with hard shots. Very hard. Neither fighter backing down. Bustillos scores with a series of uppercuts, and Valle answers with a left hook. Valle misses more than earlier, and Bustillos showing more precision. Bustillos 67, Valle 66.

Round 8: Anybody interested in defense? For these fighters, not so much. Valle tattoos Bustillos with two lefts, and Valle heating up. Bustillos 76, Valle 76.

Round 9: Valle connects with a punishing right seconds into the round as the brawl resumes. What a fight. They’re leaning into each other as inside fighting gets underway. Bustillos uses a jab while Valle uses what looks to be a howitzer. Valle 86, Bustillos 85.

Round 10: What did you expect? What we’re getting – the ongoing brawl. Valle leaning into her power. She scores with a hard left and tags Bustillos again with a short right. Whaling away as the round ends, of course. Valle 96, Bustillos 94.

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua predictions

After two bouts on the preliminary card, Netflix played a taped interview with Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua.

Final predictions, gentlemen?

“He going to be looking for the right and I’m going to hit him with the left,’’ Joshua said with a smile.

Said Paul, “I’m going to knock him out, fifth or sixth round.’’

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua tickets tank

Get-ins for the fight are listed for $31 by Ticketmaster, the primary ticket distributor for the fight. Only days ago the tickets were priced at a relatively modest $62. And on Monday Ticketmaster offered a 2-for-1 offer, highly unusual for a high-profile spectacle like this heavyweight fight.

Avious Griffin def. Justin Cardona by KO

Coming off a knockout loss in June, Griffin avenged himself in fitting fashion – with a knockout.

Cardona came out the aggressor – and ultimately he ran into a buzzsaw. Griffin dropped him with a combination and Cardona was counted out with one second left in the first round.

Griffin, 32, improved to 18-1, 17 KOs. Cardona, 26, dropped to 10-2.

Avious Griffin vs. Justin Cardona, welterweight, scheduled for eight rounds

Round 1: Avious Griffin is noticeably bigger, but Justin Cardona comes out stalking. And there’s an impressive exchange of punches, Griffin firing and Cardona answering with a flurry. Despite Griffin’s power, he looks oddly passive. Cardona closes the gap and lands big before Griffin responds and floors Cardona with a wicked combination. Griffin wins by knockout! As the round was coming to a close!  

Keno Marley def. Diarra Davis Jr. by unanimous decision

Marley, a two-time Olympian from Brazil, made an impressive pro debut in a four-round cruiserweight fight.

About 30 seconds into the bout, Marley knocked down Davis with a powerful right. Davis got back on his feet and stayed there. But the 25-year-old Marley dominated the rest of the fight with that potent right and combinations.

All three judges scored the fight 40-35 for Marley, who improves to 1-0.

Diarra, 35, fell to 2-2.

Keno Marley vs Diarra Davis Jr., cruiserweight, scheduled for 4 rounds

Round 1: Just before the bell rings, Diarra Davis opens his mouth and flashes his mouthpiece as he stands across the way from Keno Marley Maybe a bad idea, because… down goes Davis! Marley, making his pro debut, floors him with a right hand. Davis is up, but for how long? Marley attacking effectively with the right hand. Davis fights back, but without force. Marley 10, Davis 8.

Round 2: Davis not backing down, and he lands a combo in the corner. Maybe Marley was luring him in, but Marley unloads with punches. Connects with a hard left and now stalking his opponent. Again, Davis fights back but with pillows compared to Marley’s bricks. Marley 20, Davis 17.

Round 3: Davis keeps punching, and it opens him up to shots from Marley. Effective high guard from Marley, and suddenly Davis is on the run. Marley works Davis into the corner and scores. Throwing effective jabs and now getting the best of Davis with combinations. A dominant performance. Marley 30, Davis 26. 

Round 4: Gotta give Davis credit — at least a modicum He marches out and unloads combinations. Marley responds with heavier shots, and landing with both hands. Davis fights back with a flurry of punches, but Marley shows no concern. Marley showboating a bit as the fight comes to a close. Marley 40, Davis 35.

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua: Time, PPV, streaming for fight

Jake Paul will face Anthony Joshua on Friday, Dec. 19, at Kaseya Center in Miami.

• Date: Friday, Dec. 19
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Paul vs. Joshua main event ringwalks: 10:30 p.m. ET (estimate)
• Stream: Netflix

Jake Paul career record

Paul flexes a solid 12-1 record with seven knockouts. Paul’s only loss came in February 2023 against Tommy Fury.

Anthony Joshua’s career record

Since turning pro in 2013, Joshua boasts an impressive 28-4 record, with 25 of those wins coming via knockout. He also won Olympic gold for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Jake Paul prediction: Boxer feels an upset

Jake Paul says he’s prepared to pull off ‘the biggest upset in the sport of boxing’ when he meets Anthony Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight boxing champion, on Friday night in Miami.

But how he’s going to do it may be the most surprising part. The former YouTube influencer and actor says he plans to use superior boxing skills and strategy to defeat the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, whom the sportsbooks have installed as a massive favorite.

‘On paper, the cards are stacked against me. But really in terms of boxing, I’m a better boxer than AJ, which is hilarious to say, but he’s got two left feet,’ Paul told reporters on Tuesday, Dec. 16. — Steve Gardner

Joshua vs. Paul fight rules

The fight is a sanctioned heavyweight fight, consisting of eight three-minute rounds. Each boxer will wear ten-ounce gloves, which is the typical size for official heavyweight fights.

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua predictions

Hasim Rahman: Anthony Joshua wins quick

‘I don’t believe it should be a competitive fight. It should not,’ the former heavyweight champion told USA TODAY Sports. ‘I feel like if Anthony Joshua don’t go in there and manhandle (Paul) and maul him and get him out of there in one or two rounds, then we got some questions to be asked.’Watch it here: Stream your favorite shows, the biggest blockbusters and more.

Nate Diaz: Jake Paul wins

‘I got my money on Paul,’ the former UFC fighter and Paul opponent said. ‘He might get … knocked out, but if he don’t Paul is gonna win.’

Deontay Wilder: If it’s not scripted, Joshua wins

‘In my opinion, it’s scripted a little bit because of the weight difference and Joshua’s a former champion and also he’s current, he’s active,’ the former heavyweight champion said. ‘This is going to be the first time we see Paul fighting an active fighter. We’ve seen the Mike Tyson (fight). That was all fun. That was cute. It was fun and games, but now you’re dealing with a real professional.’

Sportsbook Review: Anthony Joshua by decision

‘Jake Paul fights have been held for the masses. His fight last year against Mike Tyson went the distance to the judges, despite both fighters seemingly having several chances to end it early on. This is another fight on Netflix, on a Friday night, and close to the holiday season. The streaming giant will want to get its money’s worth in viewer retention ahead of airing two NFL games on Christmas Day.’

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight card odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Friday, via BetMGM

• Heavyweight: Jake Paul (+650) vs. Anthony Joshua (-1200)
• Cruiserweight: Anderson Silva (-300) vs. Tyron Woodley (+225)
• Unified Super Featherweight Title Bout: Alycia Baumgardner (-1400) vs. Leila Beaudoin (+650)
• Super featherweight: Jahmal Harvey (-5000) vs. Kevin Cervantes (+1100)
• Undisputed Bantamweight Title Bout: Cherneka Johnson (-900) vs. Amanda Galle (+500)
• WBC Strawweight Title Bout: Yokasta Valle (-1200) vs. Yadira Bustillos (+600)
• Welterweight: Avious Griffin (-550) vs. Justin Cardona (+350)
• Cruiserweight: Keno Marley (-10000) vs. Diarra Davis Jr. (+1200)
• WBC Lightweight Title Bout: Caroline Dubois (-5000) vs. Camila Panatta (+1000)

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Friday at 2:50 p.m. ET, via BetMGM

• Jake Paul (+650) vs. Anthony Joshua (-1200)

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua full fight card

• Heavyweight: Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua
• Cruiserweight: Anderson Silva vs. Tyron Woodley
• Unified Super Featherweight Title Bout: Alycia Baumgardner vs. Leila Beaudoin
• Super featherweight: Jahmal Harvey vs. Kevin Cervantes
• Undisputed Bantamweight Title Bout: Cherneka Johnson vs. Amanda Galle
• WBC Strawweight Title Bout: Yokasta Valle vs. Yadira Bustillos
• Welterweight: Avious Griffin vs. Justin Cardona
• Cruiserweight: Keno Marley vs. Diarra Davis Jr.
• WBC Lightweight Title Bout: Caroline Dubois vs. Camila Panatta

For a certain caliber of NBA superstar, the trade rumors often don’t stop once they start. Not in previous generations of the league and certainly not in the current climate, in which what comes out of an NBA trade machine often resonates more than what comes out of an NBA game.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is feeling the effect this season, partly through his own doing and lack of clarity. He’s twice had to address reports about his uncertain future with the team ‒ once during the preseason and again earlier this week as he recovers from a calf injury. It’s why the two-time former NBA MVP leads the list of players most likely to be traded – and the most sought-after player – before the league’s deadline arrives on Feb. 5.

But Antetokounmpo is not the only big name who might be on the trading block in the weeks and months ahead, with expiring contracts to be dealt and disappointing teams trying to rebuild. Here’s a breakdown of notable NBA players with the best chance to be traded by the deadline, as well as some trade rumors to watch:

NBA players most likely to be traded by deadline

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Trade rumors about Antetokounmpo haven’t stopped even while he’s on the shelf. The Bucks were scuffling before he got hurt and and haven’t gotten better without him. Antetokounmpo insisted he has not spoken to team officials about wanting a trade since this season began, but also didn’t rule out the possibility his agent may have done so. If Antetokounmpo comes back and the Bucks aren’t competing to be in the top-six of the Eastern Conference standings around the trade deadline, both sides could decide it’s the right time to make a move.

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have a dilemma with Davis if they’re looking to rebuild around Cooper Flagg in the aftermath of firing former General Manager Nico Harrison. Davis is still one of the NBA’s best big men when he plays, and the Mavericks’ recent uptick coincides with his season debut. But durability concerns linger for the 32-year-old, who is set to make more than $58 million next season and has a player option for more than $62 million in 2027-28. That complicates Davis’ status at the trade deadline because his value has decreased since he was dealt by the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Luka Doncic last February. Are the Mavericks willing to sell low?

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Young recently returned to action after missing 22 games due to injury, while the Hawks blossomed behind new star Jalen Johnson. If the team loses its momentum with Young back in the lineup, speculation will ramp up about his future as the trade deadline approaches. Young has a player option on his contract for next season, which means he could become a free agent. The more complicated question for Atlanta (and potential suitors) is whether he’s still worth paying like a No. 1 option long term.

DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings

The Kings are a mess with an expensive roster of players that don’t fit well together. Just about the entire lineup could be available at the trade deadline this year, with Zack Lavine, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis among the other options prominently mentioned in rumors. But DeRozan might be the easiest to trade because his contract is only partially guaranteed next year, and he’s making less than $25 million this season unlike Lavine and Sabonis. The 36-year-old is averaging more than 18 points per game and tied his season high with 33 points in the Kings’ 134-133 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 18.

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

It’d probably be best for everyone involved if Kuminga and the Warriors figured out how to resolve their increasingly awkward relationship by the NBA’s trade deadline. Kuminga has been in-and-out of Golden State’s rotation this season due to decisions made by coach Steve Kerr or mysterious injuries, leading to continued speculation about Kuminga’s desire to remain with the team. The 23-year-old ended an offseason stalemate by agreeing to a 2-year deal with the Warriors as a restricted free agent, but it doesn’t appear he ever really wanted to return to Golden State.

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Paul is still technically on the Clippers despite being sent home by the team earlier this month. There are indications Paul would like to continue playing somewhere else this season, and outside Los Angeles if necessary, after previously announcing this would be his last season. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Clippers this offseason and would be an easy throw-in if the team elects to make a major trade in response to its poor start to the 2025-26 campaign. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at the NBA Cup he would ‘love’ to see Paul find a new team to close his final season.

NBA trade rumors: Players to watch

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Though Morant’s name is mentioned frequently in NBA trade gossip, his injury issues and significant contract make a deal more challenging in the near term. Even if the Grizzlies were looking to trade Morant – the team insists they’re not, though it has a better record without him than with him through Dec. 18 – he needs to be healthy for a deal to occur at the trade deadline, which isn’t a given according to recent history. Memphis will have a hard time getting much in return for Morant in the next two months with his stock so low and two more years left on his max rookie extension. If Morant is traded, it’s more likely to happen after this season ends.

LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Morant’s situation in Memphis has some parallels for Ball, as rookie Kon Knueppel emerges as an intriguing new option for the Hornets. Unless Ball is included in a trade for Young or Morant, his max rookie extension and the potential he could still blossom in Charlotte alongside Knueppel and Brandon Miller likely outweighs what the team would get in return right now given Ball’s max contract, recent injury history and reputation for lackadaisical play at times.

Lauri Markannen, Utah Jazz

Markannen has quietly been one of the best players in the NBA during the opening two months of the 2025-26 season, even as the Jazz appear destined for the draft lottery again. He could change the complexion of the postseason race if he were to land on the right contender, and that comes with a steep price. Utah General Manager Danny Ainge has never been eager to deal, and there’s no rush with Markannen in the first season of a new 4-year contract worth nearly $196 million.

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are just moments away from their highly anticipated bout, which means they’re that much closer to a hefty payday.

Paul, a YouTube influencer-turned-professional boxer, has made a name for himself in the boxing world despite facing criticism for the quality of opponents he faced, which includes mixed martial arts fighters, retired or out-of-their-prime boxers and former NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson.

‘They say I’m unproven,’ Paul says. ‘Untested. That I talk big and fight small. Well, surprise, b—-.’

Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, dismissed the perceived criticism from the fight with Paul, telling reporters during the final prefight news conference on Wednesday that he’s more focused on ‘people talking about the fight’.

‘I’m not worried about what people think about the integrity side,’ Joshua said. ‘I’m more worried about are they talking? As long as they are, then we’re doing a good job.’

For what it’s worth, as Paul looks to gain more credibility in boxing, Joshua said Paul is someone he would’ve fought early in his career.

Paul, 28, originally planned to fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who held the World Boxing Association lightweight title since 2023, but the fight fell through following legal issues Davis faced, causing Paul to search for another opponent, handpicking Joshua, who is eight years older than Paul.

Joshua, 36, stands at a massive 6-foot-6, about five inches taller than Paul’s 6-foot-1 frame, and weighs 245 pounds, compared to Paul, who is 216 pounds.

How much will Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua make from their fight?

Although an exact number has not yet been confirmed, the fighters are expected to earn a pretty penny for their match.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Daily Mail and former UFC champion Michael Bisping, the purse is worth $184 million, where Paul and Joshua will make $92 million apiece for the fight. But that sum could be undervalued as Paul took to X, formerly Twitter, in November to presumably contend that number.

‘Stop asking me,’ Paul wrote in a X post. ‘$267 million.’

However, that figure has not been confirmed.

How much did each make in their previous fights?

No matter the exact figure, one thing is certain: this fight will rake in exponentially more dollars than each respective fighter’s last bout.

Paul has a 12-1 professional boxing record after 13 fights, including seven knockouts. His last fight was in June against Julio César Chávez Jr. at Honda Center in Anaheim. Paul was dubbed the winner of that bout by unanimous decision. Many reports said, according to the California State Athletic Commission, Paul’s guaranteed purse was $300,000, not including pay-per-view shares or what his company, Most Valuable Promotions, paid him. Chavez Jr. received $750,000.

Joshua has 28 wins and four losses in his 32-fight boxing career, 25 wins came by way of knockout. However, in his last fight, Joshua was on the receiving end of a knockout, losing to Daniel DuBois in the fifth round, ultimately relinquishing the International Boxing Federation championship in 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London. Multiple reports stated Joshua made nearly $8 million from the fight, while DuBois netted approximately $4.6 million.

Anthony Joshua didn’t need the whole eight rounds to be crowned winner in his Friday night fight on Netflix.

It was relatively a snooze fest through the first four rounds and fight referee Chris Young had to talk to both fighters, telling them essentially to wake up.

Joshua finally started letting his hands go in the fifth round as he landed clean shots on Paul who often fell to his knees whether from the knock down or out of fatigue.

Joshua set the boxing world on fire and gave viewers exactly what they wanted to see as he defeated Paul with 1:31 left in the sixth round by knockout on a right-handed jab that sent Paul to the floor with his brother Logan watching ringside.

Both Paul and Joshua might have walked away with reportedly $92 million following the fight, but that didn’t stop fans from going on social media to engage in discourse and conversation about the monumental moment.

Here’s what some had to say following the Paul-Joshua fight.

Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua reactions

Boxing figures, other athletes, fans and celebrities alike flexed their thumbs, held discussion and shared their thoughts Friday night, relishing the loss of Paul, and basking in Joshua’s victory.

Jarvis was charging toward the net with the puck in overtime on Friday, Dec. 19, when he was tripped up by the Florida Panthers’ Evan Rodrigues and crashed into the net. He was holding his midsection as he ended up down along the boards then was helped off the ice to the dressing room.

‘It’s not good,’ Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters after the game. ‘He’s going to be out for a while.’

No penalty was called on the play.

Jarvis leads the Hurricanes with 19 goals. He also played for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but the injury could hurt his chances for being named to the Olympic roster, which must be submitted by Dec. 31.

AI-assisted summary
• The NFL fined Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua $25,000 for publicly criticizing game officials.
• Nacua also apologized for performing a dance on a live stream that he later learned was antisemitic.
• Following the Rams’ overtime loss to the Seahawks, Nacua posted and then deleted another social media message critical of the referees.
• Despite the controversies, Nacua had a standout performance with 225 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The NFL fined Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua $25,000 for “the public criticism of game officials,” a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. 

NFL Media first reported the news. 

Nacua spent the entire lead-up to the Rams’ “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the Seattle Seahawks – which turned into an instant classic that ended with Seattle winning in overtime, 38-37 – in the headlines.

He first criticized NFL officiating during a live stream with popular streaming stars Adin Ross and N3on. During that live stream, he also performed a dance that has been construed as antisemitic and appeared to agree to repeat the dance if he scored a touchdown during his next game. 

Hours before facing the Seahawks, Nacua posted an apology on Instagram. 

“When I appeared the other day on a social media live stream, it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration,” Nacua wrote. “At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people. I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”

The NFL later issued a statement on Dec. 19. 

“The NFL strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and derogatory behavior directed toward any group or individual,” the league said. “The continuing rise of antisemitism must be addressed across the world, and the NFL will continue to stand with our partners in this fight. Hatred has no place in our sport or society.”

Nacua went off for 225 receiving yards on 12 catches. He brutalized the Seahawks’ secondary after the catch and scored two touchdowns, the second putting his team up a score in overtime. 

After the game, Nacua once again put himself in hot water by posting and then deleting another post critical of game officials.

‘Just a moment of frustration,’ Nacua told reporters. ‘Just the opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of. Some of the moments that we put in the officials’ hands just felt like we could have executed to not put ourselves in those situations.’

Nacua now trails Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba by 45 yards for the most receiving yards in the league, with Smith-Njigba at 1,637 yards. 

Players and coaches have received more severe fines in recent seasons for the same transgression. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was hit with a $100,000 fine in December 2023, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $50,000.

Alabama is onto the next round of the College Football Playoff.

The ninth-seeded Crimson Tide picked up a 34-24 win over No. 8 Oklahoma on Friday, Dec. 19 at Gaylord-Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma to become the first team to advance past the CFP first round this year.

Ty Simpson helped lead a come-from-behind win for the Crimson Tide that started in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Lotzeir Brooks. That score kick-started a 27-point unanswered run by Kalen DeBoer’s squad. Alabama secured the game with a 6-yard rushing touchdown from Daniel Hill in the fourth quarter after Oklahoma made it a one-possession game.

Here’s a quick look at what you need to know for who the Crimson Tide play next in the College Football Playoff:

Who does Alabama football play next in CFP?

With its first-round win, Alabama will now face top-seeded Indiana in the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff. Led by their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers are undefeated at 13-0 on the season and hold a top-five scoring offense (fifth, 41.9 points per game) and scoring defense (10.8 points allowed per game) in the country.

The Hoosiers secured the top seed in the CFP bracket with their Big Ten championship win over then-No. 1 Ohio State.

Indiana football: What to know on Hoosiers vs Alabama

Here’s three things to know on the Hoosiers:

Stat leaders:

• Leading passer: QB Fernando Mendoza, 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and six interceptions
• Leading rusher: RB Roman Hemby, 918 rushing yards with six rushing touchdowns
• Leading receiver: WR Omar Cooper Jr., 804 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns on 58 receptions
• Top defender: LB Rolijah Hardy, 87 total tackles, eight sacks and four broken-up passes. An honorable mention is DB Louis Moore with six interceptions and 76 total tackles.

How they got here:

• Schedule: 13-0 overall, 9-0 in Big Ten play
• Big wins: vs. Illinois, at Iowa, at Oregon, at Penn State and vs. Ohio State (Big Ten Championship game)

Playoff history:

• Have they been here before? Yes, the Hoosiers are making their second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff under Curt Cignetti. Indiana was a one-and-done last season in the CFP, as it lost to eventual national runner-up Notre Dame in the CFP first round. The Hoosiers are looking to become the first No. 1 seed in the 12-team CFP era to win their first game after a first-round bye.

Indiana vs Alabama in CFP quarterfinals time, date, schedule

• Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
• Time: 4 p.m. ET
• Where: Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena, Calif.)
• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming option: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

Indiana and Alabama will meet in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, January 1, at 4 p.m. ET inside the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. ESPN will broadcast the game with streaming options consisting of the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.